Washington (CNN) - Both sides from the dueling responses to the president’s State of the Union speech are treading carefully heading into Tuesday.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, is giving the official Republican response to the president’s speech. Rubio’s colleague, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, will deliver the reaction from the Tea Party Express.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address starting Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time State of the Union live blog at cnn.com/conversation.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – Potential 2016 presidential candidate Chris Christie may be able to take the punch lines about his waistline. The popular New Jersey governor made light of his weight in an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" Monday night.

Washington (CNN) - An inaugural official who asked not to be identified told CNN Wednesday that pop star Beyoncé lip-synced her performance on Inauguration Day.

"She did not sing live," the official told CNN. A pre-recording of the artist's rendition of the National Anthem was played instead. What was heard by spectators and viewers was the sound of that recording, according to the official.FULL POST

Baltimore (CNN) - The owner of the company that ran the audio board used during Monday's inauguration ceremony tells CNN it's up to Beyoncé to disclose whether she was live or lip-syncing the National Anthem.

"What people heard over the system and on-air was Beyoncé singing the National Anthem and when she actually sang it is kind of a moot point," said Bob Goldstein, owner of Maryland Sound International.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Pop star Beyoncé opted to use a "pre-recording" of her rendition of the National Anthem during inaugural ceremonies in Washington Monday, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Band told CNN Tuesday.

U.S. Marine Band spokeswoman Kristen DuBois said early Tuesday that "we know why the decision was made," adding that the pop star "did not actually sing," but instead lip-synched her own voice.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - House Democratic leaders in Congress are accusing the National Rifle Association of crossing a line with the group's new ad aimed at President Obama's gun control proposals.

The spot calls attention to the Secret Service protection guarding the President's daughters at their private school in Washington, D.C. The ad goes on to echo the group's proposal for armed police officers at schools nationwide.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The National Rifle Association has seen what the organization calls an "unprecedented" spike in membership numbers over the last month, the group's spokesman told CNN Tuesday.

Approximately 250,000 people have joined the organization's existing 4.25 million members, according to NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam, since new calls for gun control began surfacing in the immediate aftermath of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama will seek passage of an assault weapons ban as part of a larger push for new gun control laws, an administration official said Friday.

Vice President Joe Biden left out the idea of such a ban when he laid out a series of potential proposals under consideration by his gun task force Thursday. Instead, he focused on a new universal background check system for gun buyers and restrictions on high capacity magazines.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – Wal-Mart's envoy to the White House's gun violence task force will meet with Attorney General Eric Holder, not the group's leader Vice President Joe Biden, an administration official said Thursday.

Wal-Mart is one of ten retailers meeting with Holder Thursday, the Justice Department said. Other stores expected to be represented at the 3:15 p.m. ET meeting include Dick's Sporting Goods and Bass Pro Shops.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - A staunch supporter of gun rights for years, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may be changing his position on the contentious issue in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

The nation’s top Democrat in Congress has faced scrutiny in recent weeks for his close ties with the National Rifle Association. On December 30, the Washington Post reported that Reid slipped a provision into the 2010 national health care law that restricts the government from collecting data on gun ownership.FULL POST